A few weeks ago I wrote about the need to tick the most important things off on your bucket list while you can, because you never know when your own health, family situation or geo-political events will take opportunities away from you.
For many people, Antarctica is at the top of their bucket list. No matter how you get there, it is a bigger commitment than going to Europe (for example), but in recent years it has become easier with many more choices available.
I researched going to Antarctica in the 1990s, and the majority of the options were variations of sailing aboard former Soviet research vessels with very little in the way of comfort, and a safety and sea-worthiness record that was suspect.
Today, there are several reputable operators offering more comfortable passage to the last frontier.
The best option for you will depend on what you want to get out of the trip, how you like to travel, and how much you want to spend.
In broad strokes, there are three very different ways to visit the last continent:
- Expedition Ship. There are a range of ships and cruise lines that fall into this category, but on all these ships, the focus is on the environment and science of Antarctica. They are not as spartan as the word “expedition” may imply, and many of them are run by luxury cruise lines.
- Luxury Ship. These ships will be somewhat larger than the Expedition Ships, but still small by cruise ship standards. You will still get to make land fall on these ships, but they will have more of the luxury amenities in terms of food, service and entertainment that you would expect from a luxury operator. They will necessarily have less scientific gear and equipment than the expedition ships.
- Mass–market ship. This category includes ships that may do itineraries out of Florida to the Caribbean when they have not been diverted to South America and Antarctica. The big hitch with these ships is that you do NOT make land fall. You will sail past Antarctica, and be able to see it through binoculars, but you don’t get to disembark (there are no port facilities in Antarctica).
Of course, there are several operators within each of these categories. If you’d like a more specific recommendation, I put together a two-minute survey that will ask you a series of questions, and then suggest the best alternative for you. Here’s the link: Click here for the Antarctica Quiz
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I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
